Town staff present concept plan and survey request for Sleepy Hollow lot expansion

Aaron Bosco, Highway Ground Superintendent for the Town of Concord, presented a preliminary concept plan on Jan. 8 showing possible expansions to the knoll section of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and described next steps for survey, design and construction.

Bosco told the Cemetery Committee the town contracted with engineering firm HSI to produce a concept layout and that staff have returned comments for adjustments. "What we're trying to do is lay out areas, inclusive of the already cleared lots as well as some potentially uncleared to be cleared at a later date," Bosco said, summarizing the conceptual lot counts and pathways shown on the draft map.

The plan identifies multiple new blocks of lots (individual block counts were shown on the presentation) and proposes paved pathways and 10–12-foot drive roads for equipment access, parking and visitor circulation. Bosco said the town needs a full topographic survey to match the conceptual overlay with accurate bounds before final construction design. "We're getting that survey done to mirror those two documents that we have and then we have accurate data and accurate plans for moving forward," he said.

Bosco estimated construction for roads, utilities and stormwater mitigation would be substantial. "Construction for these roads, insulation, and drainage is, you know, I'm sure well over half a million dollars to do this work out here," he said. He said the town expects to request FY26 capital funds to complete a final construction design that could be bid in a later year.

Committee members asked about tree removal, landscaping, green-burial options and phasing. Bosco said the initial plan minimizes tree removal, will identify trees for replacement where needed, and that green burials would require separate operational changes and public-health review. He noted the plan, as presented, would add roughly 14 years of supply based on historical sales and that full clearing could add several hundred more lots but at higher near-term cost.

Bosco also provided current availability numbers: 29 cremation lots, 12 single-grave lots and 209 double-grave lots (equivalent to 418 single-grave spaces). The committee asked staff to return with a finalized concept plan after the survey, a cost estimate for phased construction, and a recommended phasing schedule so members can prioritize stonewall and other capital projects alongside lot expansion.